Miguel had gotten seen by the medic, and he had been giving some herbs to strengthen himself. He left the medic tent, and he got up on the rock in the middle of the camp. It was his first time addressing the Banditos.
The Bandito camp was buzzing with tension. Whispers spread like wildfire as Miguel prepared to address the crowd for the first time since returning. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the gathered Banditos, their faces etched with distrust, suspicion, and anger.
Miguel stood tall, but his heart pounded. His time in DEMA had changed him—he had become a host for one of the bishops, something these people would never easily forgive.
As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, the jeers began.
"Traitor!" someone shouted from the back, their voice cutting through the air like a blade.
"We don't follow bishops!" another yelled, fists clenched.
"You should've stayed in DEMA, where you belong!"
The crowd grew louder, their voices merging into a chaotic wave of anger. Banditos, who had once trusted Miguel, now looked at him with contempt, disgust even. He could feel the weight of their stares.
Miguel took a deep breath, trying to find his voice amidst the storm of accusations. "I didn't ask for this," he started, but his words were drowned out by the crowd's rising fury.
"You became one of them!" a woman near the front spat, her eyes blazing. "How can we trust you?"
"Miguel!" another voice called out, laced with venom. "How long until you turn on us? Until you betray us like the rest of the bishops?"
Miguel winced at the words, feeling the sting of every accusation. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, someone hurled a rock in his direction. It landed just short of his feet, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Enough!" a voice rang out, strong and unwavering.
Lara.
She stepped forward, placing herself between Miguel and the crowd, her eyes fierce with determination. Her presence silenced the chaos for a moment, as all eyes turned to her. The Banditos, who had once seen her as one of their own, now hesitated, unsure how to react.
"You don't know what he's been through!" Lara shouted, her voice shaking with both anger and frustration. "None of you do!"
"He's one of them!" a man from the side snapped, but Lara whipped around to face him.
"He's the one who brought the Four back! He's the one who risked everything to fight for us!" she shot back, her tone sharp enough to cut through steel. "Do you think any of you could've survived what he did? Would any of you have come back after everything?"
The crowd murmured, but no one dared challenge her.
"I don't care if he's changed," Lara continued, her voice trembling slightly now. "He's still Miguel, the one who stood with us when no one else would. The one who fought alongside you, bled alongside you." She turned to Miguel, locking eyes with him. "And he's still standing here, facing you, instead of turning his back on the people he cares about."
Miguel swallowed hard, the tension in the air nearly suffocating. He hadn't expected her to defend him like this, especially after everything they'd been through.
Lara's gaze swept across the crowd, daring anyone to speak against her. "If you want to throw him away because of something he couldn't control, then you're no better than the bishops themselves."
The words hung in the air, thick with challenge. The Banditos shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. Some looked down, unable to meet Lara's gaze, while others muttered quietly amongst themselves.
YOU ARE READING
Only Skeletons Remain
Fanfiction"There will be Three, kin of your kin, who hold the power to reshape the world and defy the shadows." Only Skeletons Remain follows the intertwined stories of three generations bound by the oppressive grip of DEMA, a city of neon lights and despair...
